YD Broward - Counselor, Middle School FORCE

The YMCA of South Florida•Ft. Lauderdale, FL

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Site Supervisor, the Counselor is responsible for day-to-day group programming, behavior management, and direct supervision of a group of children in a licensed child care or day camp facility. The role supports children’s safety, development, and participation in age- and developmentally appropriate activities in alignment with licensing requirements, Florida requirements, and the YMCA of South Florida’s mission. The Counselor maintains records and progress-tracking tools, distributes snacks using health and sanitation practices, coordinates with facility personnel, documents behavior issues and incidents, conducts daily health checks, and helps maintain safe, clean program areas and adequate supplies. The Counselor follows emergency procedures, maintains appropriate staff-to-child ratios, completes administrative forms, attends meetings and training, reports incidents and accidents, and complies with child abuse and neglect reporting requirements. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and at least two years of experience, including one year of direct contact with children with special needs. The Counselor must be able to relate to children, communicate effectively, and demonstrate competence in planning and implementing recreational and educational activities. The Counselor II must be at least 18 at hire and is responsible for obtaining and maintaining required certifications within stated time frames. The work takes place in indoor and outdoor childcare and recreational settings, with frequent exposure to outdoor weather and occasional wet or humid conditions. The role involves significant lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling; some climbing and balancing; frequent stooping, kneeling, crouching, and crawling; and occasional movement of items weighing up to 40 pounds. Employment is at will and is contingent on clearing a Level II fingerprint background screening and successfully completing a drug test.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED equivalent.
At least two years of experience, including one year of direct contact with children with special needs.
Ability to relate to children.
Counselor II must be at least 18 years old at the time of hire.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing.
Demonstrated competency in planning and implementing recreational and educational activities.
Complete the 30-hour training requirement within one year of employment: Child Growth and Development; Health, Safety and Nutrition; Child Care Facility State and Local Rules and Regulations; Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect; and Behavior Observation and Screening.
Hold current CPR and First Aid certificates by the time of employment or within 90 days of hire.
Clear a Level II fingerprint background screening and successfully complete a drug test as a condition of employment.
Ability to perform the physical demands of the job, including occasional lifting, pushing, pulling, or moving of up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Ten-hour Developmentally Appropriate Module; School Age Appropriate Practices is preferred.
Outgoing personality and enjoyment of speaking with people.
Fun, caring, energetic, responsible, and reliable demeanor.
Ability to work well with others and build good relationships with parents, children, and colleagues.

Responsibilities

Supervise and implement age- and developmentally appropriate activities for a group of children in accordance with licensing agency and State of Florida requirements and the YMCA of South Florida mission.
Conduct and maintain measurable tools to track children’s progress.
Distribute nutritious snacks daily using universal health and sanitation practices.
Coordinate with facility personnel for the safety and benefit of children in the program.
Document behavior issues and incidents daily as needed.
Conduct and document daily health checks for each child, noting possible injuries or other questionable signs of abuse and reporting them to the Site Supervisor.
Maintain professional courtesy with parents, facility personnel, staff, and clients.
Follow facility, YMCA, and emergency-services procedures to ensure children’s safety during emergencies.
Preserve supplies, equipment, and materials, and report reordering needs to the Site Supervisor.
Inspect program areas for cleanliness and safety and check bathrooms for supplies and cleanliness before participants enter.
Complete administrative forms as directed by the Site Supervisor or Program Manager.
Attend staff meetings and training opportunities.
Assist the Site Supervisor as directed.
Report incidents and accidents to the corporate office within 24 hours.
Follow legally required child abuse and neglect reporting requirements and YMCA internal reporting procedures.
Maintain proper staff-to-child ratios and report discrepancies to the Site Supervisor.
Complete and maintain required certifications within the time frames set by the licensing agency, State of Florida, or YMCA of South Florida.